Sun, sea and the single mum.

Our daughters are playing together and I attempt a smile but apparently you don’t see me.
We are sitting close to one another at dinner whilst I sit on my own for the fifth night in a row so our daughters can eat in the kids section but apparently you don’t see me.
Our children are dancing together at the pretty awful evening entertainment but other than a smile and nod there’s nothing more that’s said.
Being a single mum on holiday seems to be like having the plague, in that if ‘our kind’ is conversed with for too long any ‘non-single mums’ will be infected and suddenly be left holding their two beautiful children all alone. The dads, of course, can’t talk to a single mum because we’re definitely trying to get out talons in any man that walks by so best to stay away.
The receptionists obviously thought a lesbian couple would be staying with them as we have different surnames on our passports and therefore on our booking. The restaurant tickets say Miss Charlotte and Miss Katie and states that two adults will be eating with them.

The housekeepers don’t know what to do with us and leave extra towels in case there is another person hiding somewhere in the closet and the bartenders presume I’m ordering two of what ever drink I ask for as I couldn’t possibly be drinking alone! (There are perks!!)
The 19 year olds running the kids club ask me every time if I want to add another signature on the card so ‘someone else’ can pick Charlotte up. Unless Pablo the pool boy (who’s quite good looking) is offering, I haven’t had anyone else ask to pick my daughter up! Each time I say ‘nope, it’s just me’ and walk away with a lump in my throat and trying to think of a way to kill an hour and a half whilst Charlotte plays what’s the time mr wolf with 10 other pre-schoolers. I even contemplated the gym and even dressed to go, only to find the treadmill and cross trainer were broken and decid that weights were not for me.

So, despite the fact that I thought I was brave enough to attempt a holiday just the two of us, it would seem my skin is not quite as thick as I would want it to be for this. It has been hard work more than it has been relaxing and both Charlotte and I have lost our tempers on more than one occasion. The sun has been good though and there have been intermittent moments that have made us smile and that I will treasure forever.
Maybe I’ll try Devon next year though, slightly cheaper and easier to get home if it all goes pear shaped! Or maybe I’ll set up a single parents holiday company with babysitters, networking type events so everyone can get to know each other and plenty of activities that both parent and child can participate in. Oh, and a strong wifi signal throughout!!

NB. I met the elusive single mum…on the flight on the way home…sitting right next to me! Thank you to the brave mum from Tamworth for ending my holiday perfectly.

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7 Comments

Oh this one really rings true for me. Took my son to a toddler butlins holiday a couple of years ago and had to return home early it was so hard physically and emotionally, surrounded by two parent families all happy on their holidays. Will always take a second adult from now on!

I hear you re the hotel staff expecting someone else! I ventured away earlier this year with my son, for the first time, just the two of us. They’d obviously made us a double bed, despite me booking a twin, given they’d just focused on the two names with different surnames! I must say though, I really enjoyed it. My son’s father isn’t involved at all, so when my son was in kids club, it was the first proper “me time” I’d had for ages and despite the weather not being great, I still laid by the pool with a towel over me, enjoying my book. I also met up with a fellow single mum on my last day – typical hey! We went to the Flamingo Beach Resort in Lanzarote – would recommend it, if you do end up travelling solo again. Think there are also holiday companies out there for single parents but as you can imagine they charge a premium for it! #singleparentlinky

The Perfect Juggler

The Perfect Juggler blog is written by Katie, a honest, open, slightly sarcastic single mum to an overly dramatic 5 year old daughter. She lives in Warwickshire and is trying to juggle all the balls of her life.
Family, friends, dating, the dreaded job and all the other things that could come crashing down at any moment.